Seealpsee Hike near Appenzell, Switzerland – Complete Guide
The Seealpsee hike was our favourite hike in Switzerland, the views are simply incredible!
When we visited Switzerland, we knew we wanted to do at least one mountain hike in the Alps. After a little research, it was clear that the Seealpsee hike, near Appenzell was an easy choice.
We had seen images online of the perfect blue lake, the snow-capped mountains and the lush green meadows and naturally we were excited to see this for ourselves.
It was the first hike we did on our 3 week Europe road trip and we set the bar really high with this one!
Have I got you excited yet? Well, you definitely should be. In this post, I will tell you all about our experience on this hike, how to get there, where to stay, when to visit and everything you might need to know before you go give this stunning hike a go for yourself.
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Seealpsee Hike Overview
Here is a quick overview of the hike before we get started on the juicy details;
| Location of the start of the Trail | Schwendetalstrasse 82, 9057 Wasserauen |
| Distance | 6km round trip |
| Difficulty | Even terrain but moderate fitness needed |
| When is the hike open | All year round |
| Cost | Free (except parking) |
| Facilities | Facilities |
Where Is The Seealpsee Hike
Seealpsee is located in the northeast corner of Switzerland close to the borders of Austria and Lichtenstein. The lake sits at a height of 1,143.2 meters above sea level in the region of Appenzell Innerrhoden.
Seealpsee Hike – The Route We Took
The cable cars were not running while we were there due to maintenance, but if you’re fit and healthy not to worry you can still hike up to the Lake.
Even if, like me, you’re not particularly fit (yet), don’t worry you should be just fine. Just take it nice and slow because the Hike up to the lake is very steep.
Because of this, don’t forget to take plenty of water, especially if it’s a hot sunny day like it was when we visited, you will need it.
The Seealpsee hike is a fairly straightforward one I am happy to share. From the car park/train station all you need to do is continue to walk along the road to the end. You will then be presented with a choice of paths to the left or the right.
The Path to the left is slightly longer so we chose to go right. Both routes are similar in difficulty and terrain, it is just that one is a little longer than the other.
This hike is ideal for people who are not confident navigating a map because you really can’t get it wrong.
As we set off, almost straight away it was just up, up, up! The walk, in total, is about an hour. That was with lots of stopping to admire the views and catch out breath.
The path is paved and pretty even the whole way up. If you are feeling strong you could even push a pushchair up to the lake. We saw several families going up and down on the day we did the hike.
Once you finally reach the top you are greeted first with the views of the mountains beyond the lake. Keep following the path and you will then pass by the guesthouse and restaurant that are located at the top.
At last you will catch your first glimpse of Seealpsee Lake and I promise you will not be disappointed.
There is a path that goes the whole way around the lake, so you can pick your perfect spot and sit yourself down for a well-deserved picnic with a view.
Some brave souls took to the chilly water for a swim but after dipping just a toe in we decided we would be staying dry. Trust me, it was freezing. This is not surprising considering there was still snow on the ground in places and on the mountaintops.
Where To Stay For The Seealpsee Hike
We stayed in a lovely small town called Alstatten when we did the Seealpsee hike. We booked into a super cute little apartment owned by a lovely local lady. Feel free to check it out here. It was a great price considering Switzerland is known for being very expensive.
Another great option and a little closer would be to stay in the town of Appenzell. Here are some of our favourite options for accommodation in Appenzell;
📍 Budget option – Alte Metzg Hostel – This is the most budget option available in the area at $139 per night for a budget room, but luckily it also has really great reviews.
📍 Midrange option – Panorama Hotel Freudenberg – This is a beautiful property with really great reviews, breakfast is included in the price of $210 per night. As it is situated on the edge of town it has epic views out over the mountains from the terrace.
📍 High-end option – Romantik Hotel Santis – This charming building in the centre of Appenzell will not disappoint you with its gorgeous interiors. For $312 per night, you also get breakfast.
The closest city to Seealpsee is Zurich. If you are doing a trip without a car and are limited on transport then Zurich is a great option as you can use the train to get to Seealpsee for the day.
When Is The Best Time To Do The Seealpsee Hike
The best time of year to hike to Seealpsee is in the spring and summer months, from April – November.
We visited in May and it was perfect. Not too crowded and we had perfect weather conditions to enjoy a picnic without getting too hot.
It is possible to hike the route we discussed, all year round as it is a paved road technically but if doing this in the winter you will NEED very good hiking boots because it is so steep.
How To Get To The Seealpsee Hike
Luckily for us, the Seealpsee Hike is very well-connected. It is possible to access the hike by car, train and by bus. Here are some more details on each of the options;
By Car
To get to the Seealpsee, we went by car. This is the location you will need to go to on Google Maps and then park in one of the huge car parks near the base of the cable car.
The car park costs 5CHF for a full day which is just under €5. Luckily the machines take cards. Just try not to do what we did and accidentally buy parking for a whole WEEK! Oops.
By Train
If you are not travelling by car then opposite the car park, there is also a train station so it is also possible to arrive for the day by train! The station is called Wasserauen Station.
Arriving by train from the nearby town of Appenzell is a good option because the trains leave twice every hour. You will want the Appenzeller Bahan train which should cost around 6 CHF in each direction.
You can also catch a train all the way from Zurich and the tickets from Zurich range from $16-$33.
By Bus
There is a regular bus from Appenzell to Wasserauen that leaves every hour and takes around 10 minutes. You will need to look for bus B23 and it should cost no more than 4 CHF in each direction. This is another great option if you are staying in Appenzell.
Save some money on your transport costs in Switzerland
Switzerland is known for being very expensive, especially when it comes to public transport. There are, however, a few different options to save some money if you plan to spend quite some time in Switzerland or if you will be travelling around a lot.
Here are the best options;
Swiss All-in-one travel pass – This allows you unlimited access to all public transport for a range of 3 to 15 days. The price of the pass starts at 232 CHF.
Swiss half-fare card – This gives you 50% off all public transport costs for a whole month and the price is only 122 CHF.
What Gear Do You Need For The Seealpsee Hike
As I mentioned, the Seealpsee Hike is a fairly simple but steep hike. So I would recommend having some sturdy hiking boots or shoes.
Then in our backpacks, we had;
- A picnic lunch
- Sunscreen
- Small first aid kit
- Water bottles – We use Water-to-Go filter bottles which are ideal because we can fill them up in the lakes and streams along the way and always have fresh clean water to drink.
- Raincoats (just in case)
- Power bank to charge our phones
You don’t want to pack too much and have to carry it all the way up. With just these essentials you should have everything you need for a great day out.
There is also a restaurant at the top next to the lake so you can buy food and drinks if you don’t want to carry too much.
Hiring a Boat on the Lake
A really fun activity you can do once you get up to the lake is to hire a small rowing boat and head out onto the lake. The cost is around 5 CHF ($5/6) for 30 minutes.
The lake is big enough for a good arm workout but small enough that you shouldn’t have any issues going off too far. A big perk of the mountain lakes is no current or waves to contend with.
They also have life jackets available if you should want them.
Seealpsee Hike FAQs
I have covered all of the basics for you to be able to enjoy your hike but just in case, here are a few more commonly asked questions.
Can you swim in Seealpsee?
Yes, it is perfectly safe to swim in the lake but keep in mind it is VERY cold, so best to only dip in on a warm sunny day and make sure to have plenty of warm clothes to put on afterwards.
Can you take dogs on the Seealpsee hike?
Yes absolutely, dogs will LOVE this hike. It’s perfect because they can have a nice cool drink in the lake once they get to the top.
Can you get to Seealpsee with a pram or wheelchair?
We passed a few families pushing prams up this path. It is paved the whole way up but keep in mind it is very steep pretty much the whole way up.
I wouldn’t try it if you don’t have good brakes, but if you’re fit and strong and know you are capable of pushing them uphill for an hour and keeping them under control on the way back down then technically it is possible.
Can you visit Seealpsee all year round?
Yes, it is possible to hike the route we showed you all year round. Many of the other routes in the area will close in the winter months but this one will remain open as it is a service route.
Can you drive to Seealpsee?
For us the general public, it is only possible to drive as far as the car park at the bottom of the hike.
How much does it cost to visit Seealpsee?
The Hike to Seealpsee is completely free, you will only need to pay for the car park.
Is the Seealpsee hike family-friendly?
Yes, the hike to Seealpsee is totally child-friendly. In fact, most children with their oodles of energy would probably whizz up there much faster than I did.
What facilities are there on the Seealpsee hike?
This hike is well equipped in the way of public amenities. There are public toilets at the bottom of the hike, in the car park. Then once you reach the top there is the restaurant. They sell cooked meals, cold drinks and ice creams. They also have restrooms.
Seealpsee Hike – Final Thoughts
Although we did a straightforward hike up to Seealpsee and not one of the more adventurous hikes, we had an awesome day. We would 100% recommend this hike if you’re ever in Eastern Switzerland, with a day to spare.
Just be careful when doing this hike outside of the spring and summer months as the trails can become more dangerous.
If you’re keen on hiking in the Alps and also plan to visit Austria then check out our favourite hike in Austria.
